Man held after food stolen at knifepoint

A 55-year-old homeless man will remain behind bars until his next courtappearance after a basement apartment in south-end Halifax was brokeninto early yesterday morning and a large knife was allegedly wielded atthree people inside by the suspect.

A 55-year-old homeless man will remain behind bars until his next court appearance after a basement apartment in south-end Halifax was broken into early yesterday morning and a large knife was allegedly wielded at three people inside by the suspect.

George Edward LeBlanc, of no fixed address, has been remanded to the Burnside jail until his next court appearance on May 11 in relation to the incident on South Park Street just before 2 a.m.

LeBlanc, who has a criminal history dating back to 1997, is facing a handful of charges in relation to yesterday’s incident, including break and enter, robbery and assault with a weapon.

Police allege the accused entered the apartment in the 1100 block of South Park Street after breaking the lock on the door. He then grabbed a large kitchen knife from the counter, according to police, and began swinging it at the three residents inside. The residents — all men — ran to the bathroom, locked the door and called 911.

“The door was forced open and when the individuals were in there, (the suspect) did pick up a knife and was waving it around,” said police spokesman Const. Brian Palmeter. “Certainly, the individuals did the right thing by not challenging him further.”

Police say the man left the apartment with several items of food before officers arrived but was arrested a short time later at Grafton and Blowers streets.